Running for an elected positionin the Student Government Association is a task within itself, but winning thetitle of SGA President and Miss Southern requires more work.
The most vivid studentambassadors of Southern University worldwide are the SGA President and MissSouthern. They collectively travel promoting SU and encouraging more studentsto attend Southern University.
“The role of Miss Southern andthe SGA President is to represent the best interest of the students and serveas an active voice for the majority of the student body,” said Deshrick J.Bonne a junior from Dallas majoring in criminal justice.
Both ambassadors have to supportthe university in a magnitude most students do not have too.
“We consider Miss Southern theface of the institution. She has to talk to alumni and general society all thetime,” said Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs RussellFrazier. “You get a stipend,clothes and represent the university on so many different levels.”
Miss Southern Enitra Jones tookher own personality and turned it into what she says is the best way to run acampaign.
“The best thing a candidate cando is to be honest and sincere in your campaign,” she said.
Even with donations from varioussupports she said a successful campaign could become very costly.
”It should be a well thought out decision because in manycases it can wreak havoc on your financial situation if you did not planaccordingly,” Jones said.
Jones began organizing hercampaign at the end of her sophomore year.
“It is impossible to mount asuccessful campaign without any monetary support,” Jones said.
Former SGA President Wayne “UncleBuck” Hayden 2003-2004 said he didn’t use much money or gimmicks to win. His”grassroots” campaign featured posters, Kool-Aid and second line bandperformance to gain votes.
“I didn’t sell any gimmicks. Iran on the issues that students face each day — housing, security and how theirmoney is spent,” Haydin said in the April 25, 2003 issue of the SouthernDIGEST.
Current SGA president AuthorMonroe used approximately $4,000 to campaign and gave out hats, T-shirts,pencils, lab coats, pens, flyers, floppy disks and bottled water.
” It is about the people thatyou touch not the candy you put in their hand,” Monroe said.
According to Frazier a goodcandidate for SGA is “written all over their face.”
“If you have a good message andif it has a positive influence — people will vote for you,” Frazier said.”People can see who are fake and who will actually guide the university. These(real people) are the ones that usually shine and get elected.”
Platforms play a vital role inthe agenda of any candidate. Without actually knowing them, their aspirationsduring their perspective tenure is showcased in their platforms.
“Everybody knows you will liveand die by your platform, ” said SGA President Arthur Monroe. “A lot of peopledon’t think about the things and just throw them on the platform.”
The information on the platformusually comes up again in the SGA debates and throughout the year.
“The debate can be importantdepending on the questions that are being asked,” said Ivory Berry executiveassistant to SGA President Arthur Monroe. “The people on the platform usuallyask questions about the platform and what they will do compared to people inthe audience trying to bash the person and not keeping it business.”
To get into office mostcandidates have campaign teams that consist of friends, family and supporters.
“Your campaign should consist ofpeople you trust and trust in you and your attitudes and believe in what youwill accomplish in the upcoming year,” Jones said.
